One of the random benefits of having house guests is getting to play with the toys they accidentally leave behind. My cousin's fiancé is working on his upper body so he can wow us all at their upcoming wedding. One of the tools in his traveling fitness arsenal is the Perfect Pushup ($40). His forgetfulness was my chance to try this "as seen on TV" gizmo, which meant I did many reps of push-ups.

By gripping the handles, the Perfect Pushup definitely protects your wrists. Since you are also slightly elevated off the ground, you work your center in a different way too and this makes the push-up seem more challenging. Since the discs rotate, you can twist your shoulder joints you press back up to the plank, but trying to keep the discs still emphasizes the core engagement of the push-up. I liked using them, but for $40 bucks (plus shipping and handling) I think I will stick all my push-up variations and wrist stretches. What about you?

If you want to see how everyone's favorite trainer Danny Bonaduce uses the Perfect Pushup, well then just read more

When working at a computer we tend to blink about five times less than usual. Blinking might seem like an unimportant activity, but it lubricates eyes. Having dry eyes is not only irritating, but it can interfere with your ability to get your work done and get out of the office.

Here's a handy little exercise to help you remember to blink. Every 20 minutes, slowly close your eyes 10 times. These slow, steady blinks will help lubricate your eyes and lessen any computer strain you might being feeling in your peepers.

Fit's Tip: If you drink a lot at your desk while working on the computer, slowly blink your eyes whenever you take a sip of your beverage.

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While I was doing bicep curls at the gym yesterday, I was reminded of how great Pilates is. Why, you may ask? Because so many Pilates fundamentals extend to other activities, so you can exercise better no matter what you're doing.

If you've never taken a Pilates class, I urge you to try it at least once so that you can apply the lessons to the rest of your fitness routine. For instance, Pilates focuses a great deal on breathing and control, both of which come in handy when strength training. The more you control your movements, the less prone you are to injury.

Even more useful is learning to suck in your abs (engage your deep abs), concentate on your core, and keep your spine neutral. This not only protects your back and improves posture but also helps build your ab muscles. After dabbling in Pilates, you'll learn that sucking in your abs during just about any activity — from weightlifting to canoing — can help you tighten your tummy and protect your back.

So give it a shot and see what you learn. Who knows? You may even find a new workout you love. Are you a Pilates fan? If so, tell me what it's taught you.

Equinox, one of my favorite national gyms, has more to it than a pricey monthly fee.

Equinox has gotten a lot of flack for its unusual choice of advertisements, but the brand is actually highly committed to being a green company. Currently here is what has been going on behind the scenes that you may not have known (I know I didn't):

• All the tiles, paint, wood products used to make the gyms include low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), as well as recycled and rapidly renewable materials.
• It has switched to using low-toxic and natural cleaning products during workout hours, which improve indoor air quality while still maintaining a high level of cleanliness.

There's more so read more